Carjackers kidnap man, but he is able to escape

SOUTH COUNTY: Three men kidnapped, robbed, carjacked and shot at a motorist in Otay Mesa last night before they took him to Chula Vista, where he escaped, San Diego police said.

The victim called police about 7:40 p.m. and said the men confronted him 20 minutes earlier outside a McDonald's at Palm Avenue and Interstate 805.

One man walked up to his passenger window and asked directions. A second man came to his window, pointed a pistol at him and ordered him to get into the back seat.

A third man with a handgun also got in the back seat, police Sgt. Bob Dare said. They drove north into Chula Vista, stopping at Halecrest Drive and Hale Street, where a fourth man joined them. They told the victim to get into a gray Dodge pickup, but he ran to a nearby shopping center for help, Dare said.

One carjacker fired a shot at the man as he ran, but the round missed. The carjackers drove off in his purple 1998 Honda Accord with California license plate 4BRU823. –P.R.